Try to Avoid Infections

During strong chemo, you may be at risk for infection. There may be ways you can help protect yourself. Here are some things you can do:

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. This is especially important after you use the toilet and before cooking and eating.

Avoid people who have diseases—such as colds or the flu—that you can catch.

Clean cuts and scrapes right away with warm water and soap. Cover with a bandage. Ask your doctor and care team if using antibiotic creams is right for you.

Avoid crowds where germs can be rampant.

Be careful not to cut or nick yourself. Use an electric shaver instead of a razor. Wear protective gloves when gardening or cleaning to avoid cuts and scrapes.

Talk with your healthcare professional for more advice about how to reduce your risks of infection.

Talk With Your Doctor Now

Speak with your doctor early on to learn what can be done to help reduce your risk of chemo side effects. For most people, chemo side effects from chemotherapy will subside over time after they complete treatment. Some chemo side effects may take longer to subside than others, and some may not go away at all.

If you have questions, prepare a list to refer to next time you see your doctor. Be sure to write down your doctor's answers and advice. You can review these notes at home. It may also help to bring a family member to listen and take notes for you. Questions you can ask your doctor may help you start the discussion.

A Closer Look: Bill*

Bill learns that his doctors think he needs another round of chemo.

The last time he went through chemo, he developed serious side effects.

*This is a fictional case study based on chemo patient experiences. Your experience is unique. Your doctor and care team will create a plan that will best treat your type of cancer and manage your chemo side effects.

The Chemotherapy and Infection Discussion Guide can help you understand your
risk of infection

Infection can be a serious side effect of strong chemo. Find out the factors that affect your risk of infection. Simply answer a few questions, and then print your results to share with your doctor.

A change in a person's condition caused by taking a medication, using a medical device, or through another type of treatment.

Alopecia is hair loss. Chemotherapy and sometimes radiation may make patients lose some or all of their hair during treatments. The most common area involved is the head, although other body hair can also be affected.

Feeling queasy or sick to your stomach.

Fatigue means feeling tired, weak, sleepy, forgetful, or worn out, and having no energy to go about your daily routine. Fatigue is commonly caused by cancer treatments, but can also result from the disease itself. Fatigue is also often present in patients with anemia.

A lower-than-normal number of neutrophils (infection-fighting white blood cells) in the blood.

A type of immune cell. White blood cells are responsible for fighting infection. There are several kinds of white blood cells, including monocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils.

A type of immune cell. White blood cells are responsible for fighting infection. There are several kinds of white blood cells, including monocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils.

An invasion of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) that have the ability to multiply and produce disease.

Red blood cells are made in the bone marrow and released into the blood. They circulate in the blood and carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Too few red blood cells can lead to anemia.

A condition in which there is an abnormally low number of platelets (thrombocytes) circulating in the blood. Excessive bleeding may occur if the platelet count is very low.

Inflammation or irritation of the mouth. Also called stomatitis. Certain kinds of chemotherapy can cause mouth sores.

Anemia is a lower-than-normal number of red cells in the blood. Red blood cells are important because they carry oxygen from the lungs to all other cells in the body. Shortness of breath, fatigue, and weakness are common signs of anemia.

An invasion of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) that have the ability to multiply and produce disease.

An antibiotic is a medication used to fight germs or bacteria that cause infection. Some chemotherapy can put patients more at risk for infection. Antibiotics are given to treat an infection.

A cell fragment found in the blood. The main function of platelets is to aid in clotting the blood following an injury. Chemotherapy can cause the platelet count to drop, creating a risk of bleeding.

Having a feaver and low number of certain type of infection-fighting while blood cells called neutrophils. Having a feaver during neutropenia may be a sign of infection

The act of ejecting via mouth some or all of the contents of the stomach through the mouth.